Pure Joy in Drought?!?!?!
drought cannot be pure joy - or can it
I have recently shared about how I've been struggling spiritually - not doubting God's existence, but if He even cared about the heaviness on my heart.
A couple weeks ago I was reading 100 Names of God by Christopher D. Hudson and Elohim Shama - the God Who hears - was the Name for the day. I literally sat there looking at those words and in angry tears yelled at God. "No, You don't hear! You're not listening to me!"
In this time of searching, I've heard a couple of Charles Stanley's sermons on wavering faith based on the scripture passage James 1:2 - 7. I have always struggled with the "pure joy" concept as you're facing many trials, but especially right now.
Sweet Friends, hang with me as I share what God has shown me in James 1:2
Read these words slowly ~
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, James 1:2
I don't know about you all, but I kind of check out after reading these words! MANY trials CANNOT EVER be pure joy!
Then comes the question: Do you believe My Word or not?
To which I respond: God, You obviously aren't seeing when I'm seeing!
To which He lovingly replies: You're right, I don't see what you're seeing, I see beyond this!
Those words leave me undone. . .
Until now, in my seeking, I have never put this all together. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Understand this - joy is not a feeling, it is not an emotion, joy is a fruit of the Spirit.
The Spirit-filled joy that James is talking about here is not what any of us can see in our circumstances or experience with ANYONE other than a deep, abiding relationship with El Shaddai - my God Almighty!
Don't miss this truth, the only way to experience joy is through completely trusting YHWH ~ I AM. It's not the difficulty, it's the relationship.
Here's even further proof that I'm missing the boat with James 1:2. The Greek word for joy is chara; the Greek word for grace is charis. In the Greek, joy and grace come from the same word family. I don't fully understand nor do I completely accept the grace of my Loving Father Who wants nothing but the best for me - even if it means facing trials of many kinds so that I can see His face more clearly.
The grace of God is the only way to persevere through trials of many kinds. It's not the situation, it's the saving grace of our Savior that brings joy in the midst of hard!
I love the picture included with this blog. Technically, our youngest daughter is holding her half nephew. I don't see a half smile on her face. I see the sweetest joy in meeting her nephew for the first time. That joy didn't come from this specific moment, it came from the healing grace of our Abba, Father in our blended family!
So, is there pure joy in drought ~
drought is pure joy when we root down to find the
LIVING WATER
because, my friends, His grace is enough!
Wow! Such beautiful…yet not easy…truth to consider! Thanks for sharing what you’re learning in the drought. And more Living Water for us all!
Amen!
These words brought tears to my eyes and caused me to be covered with goosebumps. I am thankful for a God who lets us both know (in our mind) and feel (with our emotions) His presence. I am also thankful that we know JOY in our mind and in our heart.
It’s so comforting to know HE KNOWS exactly what we need and when we need it!
I have not forgotten about the convo you and Danny and I had about cultivating the earth to bring water to the top. I love your picture of rooting down to the living water. That’s what we all need! Jesus—our living water!
There’s times when we have to search for that Water which draws us closer to Him!